Man who hit bus in stolen car, dies from injuries

A man in his 20s died from injuries sustained after the car he was driving collided with a bus, on Jan. 5, 2018.Chris Procaylo / Chris Procaylo/Winnipeg Sun

A man driving a stolen car who veered into a city transit bus in the early morning hours of Jan. 5 has died.

The crash happened after the driver of a black car drove into the path of an oncoming bus that was travelling northbound on Osborne Street South near Woodward Avenue around 1:30 a.m.

Investigators had determined that the car had been stolen a short time earlier from a location on Pembina Highway.

Police said the man, who was in his 20s, was rushed to hospital, where he remained in critical condition.

The bus driver was treated and then released and is said to be dealing with psychological trauma stemming from the crash.

“I talked to him this morning,” said Aleem Chaudhary, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 which represents Winnipeg Transit drivers and other workers. “He feels very sad. It’s a life that was lost and unfortunately there was nothing he could do. It plays on his mind.”

Chaudhary said the bus driver has been receiving counselling through Blue Cross and has strong family support around him.

“He is on his way to recover, I can see that in the tone of his voice now,” Chaudhary said. “He’s doing better.”

There is no timetable for the driver to return to work.

“It will be a while before he gets back,” Chaudhary said. “It’s not an easy transition, especially when there is a death. It’s a difficult situation. It’s the worst fear I think every bus driver has.”